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« on: August 11, 2011, 11:19:03 AM »
I had the opportunity to sail a 355 for an afternoon on San Francisco Bay earlier this summer and left with very favorable impressions. We motored out of the Estuary and hoisted (or is it “pulled out” now?) sail near the Ferry Building. We sailed almost to Harding Rock making several tacks, gybed, sailed a beam reach for a “speed run” then returned to Alameda via the backside of Treasure Island. Speeds were taken off a hand held GPS. Apparent winds peaked out in the low twenties, not nuclear, but typical for early afternoon here. Tide was in flood so the Bay chop was fairly “flat”.
I didn’t notice the engine’s apparent small size at all as it pushed the boat into the flood in the mid six knot range. Boat tracks well under power. The sails were a 110 jib and a main with vertical battens. I understand that Catalina no longer has their in-house sail loft so sails can be custom ordered. Hoisting was easy and I found the main easier to set and trim for speed than what I experienced on the roller mains on C34s. The primary winches are set back close to the helm (where the secondary’s usually are). This made it a snap to do single handed tacks and trim adjustments, but I think it would get a little crowded in a full crewed situation. Helming was a delight, it was very easy to put the boat in trim and sail with a balanced helm. Traveler controls were at the edge of the coach roof and easily accessible from anywhere in the cockpit. You could “power up” or flatten the boat down at will with just minor traveler adjustments. We had no problem gybing. The boat peaked out in the low eight knot range (GPS) which would put us at or near hull speed during our “speed run”. The boat has much higher freeboard than the 34’s or 36’s and I was unable to bury the toe rail (which I did on my 34’s test sail). The boat is very dry even without a dodger. This 355 was not equipped with a kite so I wasn’t able to try out the (optional) bow sprit.
I thought that the 355 was a nice sailing boat. It is a Catalina and heavy so it’s performance drops off dramatically under 10kts apparent. But, in teens to low twenties, a delight. I especially liked the cockpit ergonomics. Gerry has flatten out the coamings near the helm making comfortable seating positions for the helmsman. I really, really liked this feature. The 355 has a much heavier feel than the 34 (akin to the 36). But being able to sit “high and dry” would be less fatiguing for the helmsman on longer passages. I have to confess, at first, I did not like the direction Gerry was taking on the 350 design, but lately I’ve been rethinking my bias. I have had the opportunity to race against a 350 on several DH Lightbucket and Farallone races and they are not the pigs I once thought they were. The 34’s and 36’s are still a lot faster on the open ocean, but, for someone looking for a couples or family cruiser, this boat would really fit the bill nicely in my opinion.
). Is Farallone doing an event this year? Anybody from the factory coming out?
). On the MkII boats, What is the diameter of the limber hole between the v-berth and first bilge compartment? Stu, will you be at your boat this weekend? I’d like to pick your brain on a couple of items. Perhaps we can meet at EYC Saturday afternoon and I can buy you a beer? The Master Mariners will be in so there will be lots of wooden boats at the docks.